Following six attempts, the Buffalo City Metro ANC’s Ryan Maphisa branch in Duncan Village finally managed to hold a successful branch annual general meeting (BAGM) at the weekend.
This means the region is about to meet its 70% threshold.
Members of the branch were implicated in a backdating of forms scandal and this was their seventh attempt to try and elect a branch executive committee (BEC).
It recently emerged that a bank teller at a Mdantsane First National Bank branch was at the centre of a scheme to backdate ANC membership forms despite deposit slips for monthly subscriptions showing a different date.
The dates are vital for ANC voting and candidate rights at the party’s elective conferences as no one is allowed to take part in a BAGM if he has not been a member for at least six months.
People are also barred from becoming a party leader if they have not been a member for at least two years.
The Daily Dispatch understands the new branch leadership threw its weight behind Pumlani Mkolo and Xola Pakathi as regional secretary and chairman respectively.
Speaking on the successful meeting, branch secretary Akhona Dywili said: “All of the forms were put aside. The national office has alerted us that it is investigating how the forms were rigged.”
Although a new leadership has been elected, some party members expressed dissatisfaction with how the meeting was convened.
“Some ANC members that did not belong to the branch were kicked out and those members elected to the BEC were not voted for, they were just imposed,” said one member who asked not to be named.
However, Dywili disputed the newly elected BEC – chaired by Ward 2 councillor Mlandeli Mateke – was imposed on members.
“Because some ANC members from different branches were ferried to the BAGM venue to disrupt, it was decided that the old BEC stands.
“These people came from different wards and held a mini rally inside our venue, then it was decided after everyone’s consent that the previous leadership stands,” he said.
Now that Ward 2 has successfully sat for its BAGM the region needs only two branches to meet a quorum in order to go to the regional conference.
However, formal complaints or disputes can still be launched by disgruntled members over how the BEC was elected.
ANC BCM region acting secretary Mkhawuleli Maleki said: “Where there are challenges we work with the BEC and upper structures of the organisation to resolve such challenges in an endeavour to hold a smooth conference and take on board those with challenges when they are resolved.”
Last week the Dispatch reported that both the BCM and Joe Gqabi regions were given a September 20 deadline to conduct all their branch general meetings and BAGMs. — siphem@dispatch.co.za
ANC branch meets after six attempts
This means the region is about to meet its 70% threshold.
Members of the branch were implicated in a backdating of forms scandal and this was their seventh attempt to try and elect a branch executive committee (BEC).
It recently emerged that a bank teller at a Mdantsane First National Bank branch was at the centre of a scheme to backdate ANC membership forms despite deposit slips for monthly subscriptions showing a different date.
The dates are vital for ANC voting and candidate rights at the party’s elective conferences as no one is allowed to take part in a BAGM if he has not been a member for at least six months.
People are also barred from becoming a party leader if they have not been a member for at least two years.
The Daily Dispatch understands the new branch leadership threw its weight behind Pumlani Mkolo and Xola Pakathi as regional secretary and chairman respectively.
Speaking on the successful meeting, branch secretary Akhona Dywili said: “All of the forms were put aside. The national office has alerted us that it is investigating how the forms were rigged.”
Although a new leadership has been elected, some party members expressed dissatisfaction with how the meeting was convened.
“Some ANC members that did not belong to the branch were kicked out and those members elected to the BEC were not voted for, they were just imposed,” said one member who asked not to be named.
However, Dywili disputed the newly elected BEC – chaired by Ward 2 councillor Mlandeli Mateke – was imposed on members.
“Because some ANC members from different branches were ferried to the BAGM venue to disrupt, it was decided that the old BEC stands.
“These people came from different wards and held a mini rally inside our venue, then it was decided after everyone’s consent that the previous leadership stands,” he said.
Now that Ward 2 has successfully sat for its BAGM the region needs only two branches to meet a quorum in order to go to the regional conference.
However, formal complaints or disputes can still be launched by disgruntled members over how the BEC was elected.
ANC BCM region acting secretary Mkhawuleli Maleki said: “Where there are challenges we work with the BEC and upper structures of the organisation to resolve such challenges in an endeavour to hold a smooth conference and take on board those with challenges when they are resolved.”
Last week the Dispatch reported that both the BCM and Joe Gqabi regions were given a September 20 deadline to conduct all their branch general meetings and BAGMs. — siphem@dispatch.co.za
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